Odds & Ends: Rose, D’Antoni, Knicks, Nets, Lakers
We've got two games on the docket tonight, as the Sixers and Celtics kick off their second round series while the Lakers and Nuggets battle it out in Game 7. Here's a look at today's links..
- Derrick Rose underwent surgery on his left knee today, but projections for his return are varied, as K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune rounds up. Though Rose's brother insists Derrick will not miss the entire season, the Bulls released a statement today saying more details on his prognosis are coming next week.
- Though there has been speculation that Mike D'Antoni could be interested in the Magic if Stan Van Gundy doesn't return as the team's coach, he is just as likely to sit out the 2012/13 season, a source tells Marc Berman of the New York Post.
- Speaking of Knicks coaches, Mike Woodson is considering agent Steve Kauffman as well as CAA as he looks for new representation, according to Berman. Owner James Dolan never demanded Woodson part with former agent Joe Glass, but filled him in on the troubled history between the team and the agent. After hearing that, Woodson felt negotiations would be smoother without Glass.
- If the Nets do in fact plan to sign Andrei Kirilenko, they won't have much rebounding in their starting lineup with him alongside Brook Lopez and Gerald Wallace, tweets Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News. Reports that the team had a verbal agreement in place for a three-year deal were shot down last week.
- Andrew Bynum could find himself playing elsewhere if the Lakers get bounced tonight and he doesn't have a strong performance, opines Stephen A. Smith of ESPN Radio (via Twitter).
- Meanwhile, Magic Johnson believes that Bynum, head coach Mike Brown, and Pau Gasol will all be run out of town if the Lakers lose, writes Chris Sheridan of Sheridan Hoops.
Bulls Links: Noah, Offense, Watson
It's difficult to think of another team this year that has faced much more misfortune at such an inopportune time than the Bulls. After losing Derrick Rose in Game One to an injury that will sideline him beyond the start of next season, the team now lists Joakim Noah as doubtful for Game Four after badly spraining his ankle during Game Three. Here are a few more links out of Chicago:
- Nick Friedell of ESPN Chicago examines Chicago's failure to find offensive rhythm without Rose in the lineup.
- The Chicago Tribune's K.C. Johnson writes that guard C.J. Watson is experiencing some pain in his elbow and ankle, but coach Thibodeau is confident that he'll be able to come through and play well tomorrow.
- Johnson wonders if the decision to let Noah continue playing after spraining his ankle caused the injury to become worse.
Odds & Ends: Raptors, Bulls, Magic, Frye
Here are this evening's miscellaneous stories:
- Lang Greene of HoopsWorld had his weekly chat with fans tonight. Among the more significant things he talked about were the chances that Tyreke Evans gets shopped this summer, the Nets pursuing Kevin Garnett if Deron Williams leaves, the Hornets matching any offer for Eric Gordon, and Portland being the realistic destination for Goran Dragic.
- With $12MM in cap space before the draft, Bryan Colangelo talked about the Raptors' approach going into the offseason: "If there was going to be a year to make a bigger splash, whether in free agency or utilizing the space to acquire players by trade, I felt that would be better served in a subsequent season and that’s probably this summer" (Stephen Brotherston of HoopsWorld reports). Colangelo also told Brotherston that he and Ed Stefanski will be very active in terms of placing and entertaining calls with other GMs in the upcoming weeks and months.
- Scoop Jackson, Melissa Isaacson, and Jon Greenberg of ESPN cover a few topics on the Bulls, including how Derrick Rose's injury will affect Chicago's title hopes over the next two years, whether Luol Deng should immediately get surgery and skip the Olympics, and Carlos Boozer's reliability in the playoffs.
- Magic GM Otis Smith traveled to Los Angeles to check on Dwight Howard as he recuperates from surgery, according to Illiana Limón and Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel. While there had been speculation that Howard is estranged from the franchise, Smith and Magic CEO Alex Martins say that he hasn't asked for a trade.
- Ben Bolch of the Los Angeles Times provides a "to-do list" for the Nuggets if they are to have any chance at beating the Lakers.
- Tim MacMahon of ESPN Dallas wonders if the Mavericks should make strategic defensive adjustments on Russell Westbrook or just hope that he starts missing mid-range jumpshots.
- An article posted on Suns.com reports that Channing Frye underwent successful surgery on his right shoulder today.
Derrick Rose Out For Remainder Of Playoffs
The Bulls have announced that Derrick Rose will be out for the remainder of the season with a torn Anterior Cruciate Ligament in his left knee. The star guard suffered the injury with just over a minute to go in the Bulls' 103-91 victory over the 76ers.
The reigning MVP missed a great deal of time this season and was sidelined for 26 games with a total of five injuries. Rose showed some signs of rust early as he shot 1-for-7 from the floor but rebounded from that point forward and nailed 8-of-16 shots. Rose's near triple-double (23 points, nine rebounds, nine assists) looked to be the start of another promising postseason for the 23-year-old, but the guard will now have to watch from the end of the bench.
Odds & Ends: Rose, Perkins, Smith
One interesting note about NCAA championship as it relates to the upcoming draft: The last time the winner had a player that would subsequently go on to become that year's number one pick was in 1988, when Danny Manning of the Kansas Jayhawks was selected first overall by the Clippers. With a win tomorrow, Kentucky's Anthony Davis (currently projected to go first among several draft boards) could have a chance at ending the 23-year streak.
Should Kentucky lose, Davis could join Derrick Rose, Greg Oden, Elton Brand, and Chris Webber as number one picks who had been on the runner-up team that season. With less than 24 hours until tip-off, here are a few interesting notes to think about from the basketball news wire:
- As per Neil Hayes of the Chicago Sun-Times, Derrick Rose's injury could be worse than initially thought.
- Kendrick Perkins' has had a profound impact on Russell Westbrook this season and can be credited for the young guard's further emergence as a special player, writes Darnell Mayberry of NewsOK.
- In an exclusive interview with Raul Barrigon of HoopsHype.com, Kenny Smith indicated that he feels he'll "inevitably be coaching someday."
- Tom Reed of The Plain Dealer provides a more in-depth look at Donald Sloan, the Cavaliers reserve guard who has begun to find minutes under Byron Scott.
- According to Charles F. Gardner of the Journal Sentinel, Bucks forward Mike Dunleavy Jr. believes that teammates' trust in each other will be key in Milwaukee's pursuit of New York for the eight and final playoff spot.
- Mavericks guard Jason Terry is alarmed by Dallas' habit of falling behind in the third quarter, only to rally in the fourth but come up short, writes Dwain Price of the Star-Telegram.
- The Toronto Sun's Richard Zussman gives a primer for tomorrow's NCAA Title game and what to expect.
Odds & Ends: Bulls, Davis, Pistons, Spurs
The Bulls are doing battle with the Thunder today in another possible Finals match-up. Chicago is once again without their best player, Derrick Rose. In an Insider piece on ESPN.com, Basketball-Reference's Neil Paine explains that despite the team experiencing recent success without Rose, they have no chance at winning a title if he doesn't play.
- Tim Griffin from Spurs Nation has a piece on San Antonio's probable decision to change their lineups as the playoffs grow near.
- ESPNNY.com's Ian Begley writes about the importance of Baron Davis now that Jeremy Lin will have knee surgery.
- Vincent Goodwill from The Detroit News thinks Joe Dumars needs to take the Pistons in a new direction.
- Since Ray Allen went down with an ankle injury, and Mickael Pietrus suffered a concussion, Avery Bradley's insertion in Boston's starting lineup has been a revelation for the team's playoff chances, writes The Sporting News' Sean Deveney.
- CSNNW.com's Chris Haynes poses an interesting question regarding a difficult decision Portland might have this offseason. With both J.J. Hickson and Nicolas Batum being restricted free agents, which one should the team set as a priority for keeping? For reference, here's a look at our list of 2012/13 free agents.
- The Sacramento Bee's Stephen Magagnini wrote a piece about the impact rookie Isaiah Thomas has had both on the court and in the community.
- The Indianapolis Star's Mike Wells writes about the relationship Pacers guard George Hill still shares with Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich. Also, Indiana head coach Frank Vogel talks about why he's decided it isn't worth it to rest his veterans despite the season's hectic schedule.
Odds & Ends: Celtics, Rose, Paul
With the All-Star game taking place later tonight in Orlando, all eyes will be on the best players in the world. Next year's consensus number one overall draft pick, Anthony Davis, could participate in the game sooner than later. CBS Sports columnist Gregg Doyel wrote a piece on why Davis may be the most impactful college basketball player since Shaquille O'Neal.
Here's a look into what else is happening on the last day of All-Star weekend:
- To continue a theme that's run through their organization since last year's Kendrick Perkins deal, the Celtics are in search of a big man. According to CSNNE.com's A. Sherrod Blakely, Boston should be interested in D-league center Jeff Foote, a seven-foot, 265 pound Cornell graduate. It's been reported that New Jersey and Milwaukee have also shown interest in adding Foote.
- Yannis Koutroupis of Hoopsworld talked with Chris Paul about his immediate future with the Clippers.
- Derrick Rose's recent 14-year, $250MM deal with Adidas has opened speculation that the magnitude of shoe contracts could influence a player's decision regarding which market they'd like to play in. Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times says the worry is big-market teams could avoid the harsh luxury tax by paying less for players but getting help from shoe companies to draw them in.
- Golden State owner Joe Lacob tells Ailene Voisin of the Sacramento Bee that he wants the Kings to stay in Sacramento.
Sam Smith on Bulls, Jackson, Mayo
The basketball Hall of Fame awarded veteran Chicago beat writer Sam Smith its Curt Gowdy Media Award, along with longtime Blazers broadcaster Bill Schonely. The Hall also announced Bulls legend Chet Walker and ABA great Mel Daniels will be inducted this fall, reports Sean Deveney of The Sporting News. Reggie Miller, Maurice Cheeks, Bernard King, Ralph Sampson, Jamaal Wilkes and coaches Rick Pitino, Don Nelson, Dick Motta and Bill Fitch are finalists for induction who'll find out during college basketball's Final Four whether they'll be going in at the induction ceremony September 7th.
Fresh off the honor, Smith opened up his NBA.com mailbag and dropped a few bits of knowledge:
- Derrick Rose probably wouldn't want the Bulls to acquire Pau Gasol. Smith believes the idea that Rose gave his blessing to such a trade is way off-base.
- Carlos Boozer, who isn't likely to be traded and won't be amnestied anytime soon, will be in a Bulls uniform for a while, Smith says.
- Even though Stephen Jackson isn't getting much run in Milwaukee, the Bucks are unlikely to buy him out.
- Smith doesn't expect to see Grizzlies guard O.J. Mayo, who was nearly traded to Indiana at the deadline last season, in any deals this year.
- The Bulls are "thrilled" with coach Tom Thibodeau and want to keep him long-term, even though they have yet to pick up the option on his contract.
Rose Rejects ‘Trade Blessing’ Claim
When asked about a report that he gave the Bulls his blessing to pursue a trade for Lakers forward Pau Gasol, Bulls star Derrick Rose vehemently denied any involvement. The initial rumor of Rose approaching the Bulls front office about bolstering the roster for a playoff run came on Sunday from Chris Sheridan of SheridanHoops.com. According to the article, Rose alluded to the fact that he would like to play with Gasol and hoped the organization could acquire him in exchange for Bulls forward Carlos Boozer and another unnamed player.
In a press conference before Wednesday's game against the Bucks, Rose said he would never go out of his way to try get rid of a teammate. Neil Hayes of the Chicago Sun-Times says Rose met with Boozer to discuss the report and said that his teammate understood that the rumors were untrue. "I'm good with the teammates I have," Rose said. "I've been saying that. We've been winning games. We're not in position to trade anyone right now."
A former Blue Devil, Boozer is in his second season with the Bulls and has started in all of the team's games this season. After missing time in his first year with Chicago, Boozer's improved health has led to steady production from the 10th-year veteran as he's averaging 15.6 PPG and 8.3 APG. Signed as free agent after spending time with the Cavaliers and Jazz, Boozer has $47.1MM remaining on his contract over the next three seasons.
Kyler On Rose, Gasol, Martin, Gordon
As we covered this morning, Steve Kyler shared a few Dwight Howard rumors in his NBA AM piece for HoopsWorld. Here's the latest from Kyler on a few more topics:
- Bulls sources vehemently denied having contact with the Lakers regarding Pau Gasol, and said Chris Sheridan's report about Derrick Rose giving his blessing for the Bulls to pursue Gasol didn't originate from Rose. Kyler himself is skeptical about the rumor, noting that it would be out of character for Rose, who has avoided recruiting players.
- Replying to a question about the Rockets trading Kevin Martin, perhaps to the Timberwolves, Kyler tweets that there is "real interest." It's unclear whether he's referring to the Rockets being interested in dealing Martin or the T-Wolves being interested in acquiring him, but you could make an argument that both teams would be motivated to pursue such a deal.
- The Hornets are open to moving Eric Gordon, but only if he could bring back a "legit star," tweets Kyler.